Moving-picture theater.



I. JOHNSON.

MOVING PICTURE THEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 915.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5mm Y 3 hi 5 lugs Joseph Jbhnson,

m ED STATES PATENT cr mes.

JOSEPH JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOVING-PICTURE THEATER.

' a the ater; of this class, or to improve the agdconstruction of theaters of this class such manner that exhibitions of movmg ict-ures may be given in the daytime, and in outdoor theaters or amusement places, if desired; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in the theater construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate'parts of myimprovement are designated by suitable reference characters 111 each of the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through the stage portion of a theater involving in invention and showing a dark room back 0 the stage; Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and, Fig. 3 a front view showing partsof the construction broken away.

In thedrawing forming part of this specification, I have shown at a theflstage portion of a moving picture theatenhav ng a back wall or partition b in which is an, approximately central opening b wh ch corresponds in' form and dimensions with the screen to be used and across which the screen 0 is drawn or placed. i

Back of the stage wall or partition b 18 a dark room (1 in the rear portion of which is placed the usual picture PIOJGCtlDg aparatus e by meansrof which pictures may e projected onto the screen 0 in the usual manner.

Over the stage a, or in the top of the stage space are transverse vertically ad ustable wings, flies or screens f which are suitably spaced 1 and any number of which may be employed, and which are colored dark or black, and the stage is also provided at the,

flies or screens 9 which are also colored dark Specification 0! Letters Patent.

opposite sides thereof with other wings,

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

Application filed March 27, 1815; Serial No. 17,313. i

or black and any number of which may be employed, and at the bottom of the front of the stage is placed a roller h on which is Wound a colored or black screen If which may be drawn upwardly'and forwardly mto any desired position and secured in such position by any preferred means.

'lhe vertically adjustable top screens f which extend across the upper part of the 4 front of the stage at right angles to the side wings g, are adapted to move vertically in suitable guides (not shown). These top Wings or flies f are suspended by means of cords or cables is, the ends of which are secured to said flies. From the point of attachment to the flies f, the cords in pass over pulleys l mounted on the to of the stage, and have their opposite en s secured to a rotatable drum m mounted onone side of the stage. When the drum m is rotated'the cordsk will wind or unwind upon the drum and will raise or lower the top wings f, thus enlarging or-contracting the stage opening. in front of the screen e. w

It will be understood, of course, that the audience chamber or space, not shown, is in front of thestage, and the top wings or flies f are placed so as to produce the top line of vision '5, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the bottom screen h" may be so adjusted as to produce'the bottom line of vision 1?, as shown in said figure, while the side wings or ,flies 9 may also be placed so as to produce the side lines of vision 1' as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be understood that the top and bottom lines of vision 2' and i and the side lines of vision i maybe regulated according to the size or dimensions. of the audience space or chamber in front of the stage and the location of the audience. It will be understood that when the said lines of vision are fixed or determined so as to correspond with a particular audience chamber or space, they need not be adjusted or adjustable, but it will also be understood'that'when necessary or desirable the top screens or flies may be adjusted in the manner described. With this construction the pictures are thrown on the back of the screen and are clearly seen 105 by the audience in the samemanner as in other theaters of this class. If the audi torium is dark, or the performance is at night the operation will be the same as of any other theaters of this class, but with my improvement moving picture shows may be given in the daytime and without artthe dark room behind the rear wall or partition of the stage in which the picture projecting apparatus is placed and the wings or flies f and y. The'sheet screen It 15 not absolutely necessary but is preferably used in orderto adapt the apparatus to all possible conditions, and while Ihave described the wings or flies f and g as colored dark or black, this also is not necessary unless the picture exhibition or show is to be given out of doors, or inan inclosed auditorium.

My improvement will also be an advantage when used at night, in connection with an outdoor theater, by reason of the fact that the top and side wings or flies f and y will prevent any person or persons, except those sitting in the auditorium and who have paid their admission from seeing the pictures,

and the details of construction necessary to carry my improvement'into eifect and not herein shown and described willbe readily understood by all those familiar with theatrical apparatus or exhibition apparatus of this class.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In a moving picture theater, astage space having a partition, rearwardly of i which isa dark room the partition having a screen opening across which is placed a screen, the stage space being provided in front of and at a distance from said partition with a transverse top wing and"with side wings or flies, and at the bottom front portion thereof with an outwardly and upwardl movable screen or fly.

2. l ii a movingpicture theater, a stage space having a partition, rearwardly of which is a dark room, the partition having a screen opening, across which is placed a screen, the stage space being provided at a distance from said artitionand vat the bottom front portion thereof with an outwardly and upwardy movable screen or fly.

3. In a moving picture theater, a stage space having a partition, rearwardly of which is a darkroom the partition having a screen opening, across which is placed a screen, the stage space being provided in front of and at a distance from said partition with a vertically adjustable transverse top wing, and with side wings or flies.-

4. In a moving picture theater, a chambe having an elongated body provided with an open end, a partition dividing the interior of the chamber into two compartments, one of said compartments being light-proof andadapted to contain a picture projecting apparatus, said partition being provided with an opening across which the picture screen is placed for receiving pictures from them;

projecting apparatus, inwardly extending- 4,

vertically disposed side flaps rovidcd the other compartment of said 0 amber near" the open end of the same and spacedaway from said partition, and a. vertically- Jp posed flap extending transversely across-the" upper portion of said compartment near-its open end also spaced away fromsaid-par-. tition' and adapted to exclude exterior light from the screen, the lowerend ofsaidtrans:

verse flap being below the upper end of the" screen.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of the subscribing witnesses this 25th day of Marh, l9l5;

JOSEPH JOHNSON Witnesses:

C. Mia-Lamar, H. E. THoMrsoN. 

